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Dry Mouth Solutions

Eliminating dry mouth is not easy. Recommended courses of action vary depending on what is causing your dry mouth. A variety of daily routines and enzyme-based products are available. People who suffer from dry mouth should experiment with different dry mouth products and regimens to find out which is more effective for them. If you are unsure what is causing your dry mouth, please read our article on dry mouth causes and symptoms for more information.

If your dry mouth is directly related to medication side effects, it is important that you speak to your doctor. He or she may be able to change the medication you are using or the dosage you are taking, thereby preventing dry mouth.

Home Remedies for Dry Mouth

Drink plenty of water:

This may seem like an 'obvious' treatment for dry mouth, but you may be surprised to know that only 34% of Americans drink (8) 8 oz.
glasses of water a day (recommended), and 10% rarely drink water at all. Combined with the fact that Americans drink an average of 6 servings of caffeinated beverages a day, this recipe for dehydration can cause dry mouth, headaches, fatigue, dry skin and worse. Drinking water also helps cure bad breath and should supplement any or all dry mouth treatments.

Candies and Gums:

Chewing sugar-free gums or sucking on sugar-free candies can stimulate saliva production and thus prevent dry mouth. Sour candies seem to work best. If candies or gum aren’t for you, you can try sucking on an olive pit or lemon rind.

Eating and Drinking:

When eating meals or snacks, it’s important to drink often. Water or sugar-free juices are good choices. Not only will the fluids help you chew and swallow your food (and contribute to your daily recommended water intake), they can also help enhance the taste of your food.

Dental Hygiene:

Brushing your teeth properly (with toothpaste containing fluoride) after every meal and flossing once a day can help protect your teeth, gums and mouth tissue and help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth. Also, asking your dentist how to properly scrape your tongue and doing it once a day can help prevent dry mouth and protect your mouth from infections. It is important to understand the necessity of good oral hygiene when learning how to get rid of dry mouth.

Breathing Through Your Nose:

This may be the most difficult and most effective of all dry mouth treatments. Some people habitually breathe through their mouth. Others have nasal or sinus issues and find it difficult to breathe through their nose. Constantly breathing through your mouth can cause or exacerbate dry mouth significantly (and can be the sole cause). The constant air flow, literally ‘blow dries’ the tissues of your mouth. If you breathe through your mouth ‘habitually’, try a simple reminder (tying a string on your finger, a note in a familiar place, phone alarm, etc.) reminding you to breathe through your nose. Soon you will break the habit. For those who have difficulties breathing through their nose, you should consult your doctor and mention your dry mouth in the same visit.

Dry Air:

Living in an area with a dry climate can also exacerbate dry mouth. Even if you live in a wet climate, electric or pipe heating can cause the air in your home to be particularly dry. Using a humidifier is an effective tool for dry mouth treatment because it helps moisten the air in your home, keeping your mouth, throat and nasal passages from becoming dry and hoarse.

Other Preventative Action

Aside from the above dry mouth treatments, there are other ways to protect your mouth tissues and help prevent dry mouth. Cut down on carbohydrate intake - pastas and breads tend to be more difficult to swallow and require more water to chew, swallow and digest. Drink water while eating (as mentioned above) and chew your food thoroughly before swallowing. Lower your intake of spicy foods or foods containing high levels of sugar. Bring a glass of water to bed, and sip it regularly throughout the night. Avoid smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake. Lastly, because dry mouth can cause other complications such as tooth decay and gingivitis (to name a few), visit your dentist regularly and make sure to let him or her know that you suffer from dry mouth.